New poll shows majority of Ohio voters would repeal controversial elections law

Associated Press fileAn early voter casts a ballot at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A survey of Ohio voters released today shows a majority support the repeal of House Bill 194, a controversial update of the state's elections laws that, for now, is subject to a voter referendum this fall.

The survey, paid for by opponents of HB 194, asked voters in late January if the law should be kept or repealed. Of the 705 likely voters polled, 54 percent said they want to repeal the bill, 31 percent said they want to keep it and 15 percent are undecided.

The survey results come as state lawmakers debate what to do with the
law, which restricts early voting opportunities and makes several other
changes.

Senate President Tom Niehaus and other Republican members of the Senate are pursuing a plan to repeal the bill and replace it with another elections bill that would take effect before the November election. GOP senators involved in drafting a replacement bill say they want bipartisan agreement.

If lawmakers repeal the bill, the voter referendum, if it proceeds, would be moot.

Democrats and Fair Elections Ohio — the group that paid for the survey and collected signatures to put HB 194 on the November ballot — are suspicious of working with Republicans on a new bill. They fear GOP lawmakers will find a way to re-insert provisions that will restrict voting rights.

Former Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, who is part of Fair Elections Ohio, said the preferred outcome is to allow the referendum to play out and let voters decide the fate of HB 194.

"Lawmakers need to leave well enough alone. It's obvious they've figured out this is a bad law," Brunner said. "They need to face the consequences of what they've done."

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